Deceived (Burned Book 2) Page 18

  She laughed, the sound bounced around the room, echoing in the tiled space.

  I shushed her and checked under the stalls for feet. "How'd you sneak into the country club anyway? It's private."

  Kyra raised an eyebrow, her sneer deepened.

  "Right. Supernatural creature with sneaky PI powers. I get it." I flicked my hand waving away my stupid question. "Thanks for coming."

  It had taken me days to track down a contact number for Spencer. I'd left a vague message on a voice mail that I hoped was his. Apparently I was right.

  "You want out?" she barked, getting straight to the point.

  My head jerked up. I spun around meeting her eyes without the mirror between us before her question had stopped echoing in the small room.

  My breath rushed out.

  I nodded, too afraid to say the words out loud.

  "We're working on it." Kyra froze, listening intently to something before relaxing into the wall again. "You won't get a lot of notice, minutes maybe. Be ready to act."

  "What do you mean notice?"

  "We're going to kill Alejandro." Her smirk spread into a grin, a devilish twinkle in her eye. "Well, not we, more like me." A ball of flame appeared in her hand and danced on her palm in a rhythm only it could hear.

  I watched, mesmerized, as it doubled in size. "Put that out. You're going to set off the fire alarm."

  Heedless, she halved the flame, each smaller half frolicked on a palm.

  I ignored her goading. She was trying to get a rise out of me. I refused to be manipulated. I narrowed my eyes, but trampled down the anger that threatened.

  "Are you sure you can do it?" My voice was low, hesitant. I despised feeling so unsure. The uncertainty ate at me and made me feel weak.

  "To the creature that killed and discarded Daniel like he was nothing?" Her sultry voice deepened, anger sparked in her eyes. The flames flickered brighter only to be absorbed back into her palms like they had never existed. "I'm going to roast him. He's going to suffer. He'll hurt like all those people he made me—"

  She spun around, gasping for breath as she leaned her forehead against the cool tile wall.

  I lifted my hand to comfort her, but jerked it back. She wouldn't take it, nor appreciate the gesture. I allowed her a couple of seconds to gather herself.

  "I need to get back before they come after me," I choked out over the lump in my throat. "Spiteful Sarah is with us."

  Kyra scoffed at her very apt nickname. She knew Sarah's determination to usurp my position. "God, that bitch would rat me out so fast."

  "No joke." I strode to the door.

  "I'd probably just have to light her on fire or something." She shrugged. "It's not like the world wouldn't be better off."

  My steps faltered. Was she serious?

  I peeked back at my sort-of friend. The expression on her face was cold and calculating. The side of her mouth kicked up.

  Unease rolled my stomach as I opened the door and fled into the sunlight.

  ***

  "Ready for another round?" Tanya yelled from across the court. We were partners in doubles, while Zak and Sarah had paired up.

  "I'll kick your fluffy ass," Sarah snarled back.

  "Bitch," Tanya mumbled under her breath.

  While I enjoyed playing tennis, I liked spending time with Zak more. When Sarah caught us at the courthouse the day before, I'd jumped at the chance to spend more time with him. Too bad it came with such a heavy price tag.

  Zak was a great player and from my vantage point across the net, I had a bitchin' view. I swallowed as he drew the racket back for another serve. He bounced gracefully from one foot to the other ready to dash after the ball, his calves flexing with each movement.

  After we lost another round due to my wandering attention, Tanya threw her racket down in disgust and stomped to my side.

  "What on earth is wrong with you?" she ground out between her clenched teeth. "I didn't partner with you to lose to Sarah."

  "Sorry. I'm a little—"

  "Distracted," she mocked. "Yes. I can see that."

  I frowned as I watched Sarah strut to Zak in her tiny tennis skirt. She had nice legs, I'd admit, but her soul was black and tarry. She chatted with him, her hand cocked on her hip, gesturing sharply. Then she dragged her hand down his arm, squeezing his bicep.

  "Hmm. Maybe I should partner with Zak," Tanya mumbled. "Then both of you would be preoccupied and I might win."

  I mumbled in agreement before I realized what Tanya had said. I scrunched my nose. "No way. I'm not partnering with her."

  "Well, I guess we'll lose then. You know she's going to be snotty about it too."

  Tanya was right, Sarah would lord it over us for weeks. I bounced the ball with my racket, determination honing my focus. I was a great tennis player—when my head was in the game. I could do this.

  We won the next rounds and rose our score enough to win the match. Unlike Sarah, we didn't gloat.

  "Rematch?" Sarah eyes narrowed, her fists clenched at her sides.

  "Are you kidding?" Tanya panted, bent at the waist as she balanced on her knees. "It's time for lunch, woman! You may be able to exist on a diet of water and lemon wedges but some of us still need to eat."

  The country club's restaurant wasn't as elegant as The Harmony, but then again few places were. Large windows looked over the award winning golf course, peppered with dedicated golfers. Their plaid outfits and ironed pants made me cringe. At least tennis outfits weren't hideous. It didn't hurt that my long legs looked stunning in the short skirts.

  "What's good here?" Zak asked.

  "You've never eaten here?" Sarah looked horrified. "Am I the only one with a life?"

  I was saved from making a snarky remark by the shrill ring of her cell.

  "Sarah Kesin," Sarah answered, her voice as annoying and high-pitched as her ring tone.

  I rolled my eyes and returned to study the menu.

  "I have to go." Sarah smacked her menu down on the table and stood. She slid her purse onto her shoulder and stared at me. The tap-tap of her foot grated on my nerves.

  "What's wrong?" I frowned at her scrunched face. Was she trying to tell me something?

  "There's a problem with the case I'm working on." Her dramatic sigh emphasized her growing impatience. She rested her hand on her hip, never ceasing the tapping of her foot.

  "Sorry you have to cut your lunch short." I continued to browse the menu. Crabcakes Benedict sounded perfect. My stomach growled loudly in agreement.

  Sarah cleared her throat.

  "Are you okay, Sarah?" Tanya glanced up from her menu.

  "Aren't you both coming back with me?"

  "No. I'm off the rest of the day." My eyes met her narrowed glare, daring her to argue with me. There was nothing she could do to make me leave without causing a scene. And she knew it.

  "I drove," she snapped.

  Shit.

  "I can take you ladies back if you'd like," Zak volunteered.

  "Ari can go with you." Tanya tossed her napkin on the table, sighing as she rested the menu on top. "I'll ride back with her and pick something quick up. I've got to get back to the office anyway." She snatched a piece of bread from the basket.

  "I'll see you both tomorrow then. Great match." Trying to hide my smile, I pretended to scan the selections again.

  Sarah grumbled something under her breath and stalked off.

  Tanya leaned down and kissed my cheek.

  "Thanks girl. I don't know how much longer I could have tolerated being around her."

  "You owe me," she called over her shoulder as she followed in Sarah's wake. "Big."

  I certainly did.

  All pretense gone, I dropped my menu onto the table. My eyes met Zak's, the laughter in their depths made the blue sparkle.

  "I don't mean to sound rude, but I can't stand Sarah."

  "Most guys fall all over her."

  His hand reached for mine, our fingers intertwined. "I'm not most guys."
>
  "Obviously."

  "She's got it in for you." His sharp eyes missed little.

  "You think?" I knew she did. She was worming her way into Alejandro's good graces. I'd spotted the twin marks on her neck. They were faded, but an experienced eye couldn't miss them.

  Her plan was working. I had little doubt he was with her last night. In spite of my growing hatred for Alejandro, my chest grew tight. A sharp pain stole my breath.

  The gentle pressure of Zak's hand squeezing mine loosened the ache.

  "Lunch at my place?" His smile was filled with promise.

  I wiped the unease away. "I could sneak off for a few hours."

  He threw his napkin down. The silverware clattered against the plate as he shoved his chair back with more force than was needed.

  I stifled my laughter behind my hand.

  ***

  The dimming sunlight warned that I'd have to leave soon. Desperate to stretch out every moment with Zak, I told him about Kyra's sudden appearance at the country club.

  "That's all she said?"

  "That's it."

  "She's not very forthcoming with information is she?"

  Kind of like someone else I knew.

  "What about your friend? The psychic. Do you think she can help?" I draped across Zak's chest, naked, and toyed with his hair.

  He frowned, the concerned v appeared between his brows. "She doesn't leave her house."

  "Seriously?"

  "Ever."

  "Wow."

  "I don't want to say more. She's a great person. She was just given a crap hand. It's better for her to stay at home at this point in her life."

  "Well then," I wasn't about to give up that easy, "can I go see her?"

  "She never allows visitors."

  I imagined her life, this nameless, faceless person that knew more about me than I knew about her, alone, staring at the same walls inside her house day-in and day-out. On the cusp of insanity, if not teetering over the edge. That's where I'd be, anyway.

  "Can you tell me anything about her? She seems to know an awful lot about you and me." It weirded me out.

  "I can't. Not without her permission."

  I scrunched my face in annoyance. "Ask for it then."

  "It's not that easy, Ari."

  I rose onto my elbows and stared at him. Shifting onto my side, I grabbed his lips in my fingers and moved them so they were saying the words. "Can I tell Arabella about you so she can escape the hell she's in, alive and in one piece?"

  He grabbed my thumb between his teeth, the only digit that didn't escape fast enough. We dissolved into laughter. But it was a desperate laughter, edged in fear. We both knew the words I'd puppetted were closer to reality than either of us wanted.

  "I'll ask her."

  But he'd never get a chance. The next time he saw her I'd already be missing.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  "Kyra." I groaned and glared across the table. "This clandestine shit is getting old fast. I need a better way to reach you."

  She and Spencer had sneaked into the courthouse. We'd commandeered a vacant meeting room upstairs.

  "How do I know if you are lying to me about this whole thing? I'm at the disadvantage here, you've got the built-in polygraph." She stared at me, her narrowed gaze raising the hairs on the back of my neck. My breath caught as I noticed the golden flecks peppering the chestnut orbs. That wasn't a good sign. The silence stretched between us, a living, breathing thing with the weight of our mistrust.

  "You don't," I admitted. "You have to trust me."

  "Well, I don't."

  "I know." I racked my brain for something, some response that would hold some merit with her. "Trust in my feelings for Daniel."

  "That's low."

  "Maybe, but it's the truth." I picked at a spot on the table, unwilling to meet her eyes. "I loved Daniel, he was my family."

  "And yet you betrayed him." Her lips twisted in a cruel sneer. The words knifed into my chest. I was surprised my heart was still beating.

  "That's kind of harsh, Kyra." Spencer poked her in the side. She didn't flinch.

  Spencer's southern drawl was captivating. It floated on the air and wrapped me in a blanket of warmth and comfort. It was like hot chocolate on a cool day. I wish he'd talk more and make her shut up.

  "It's the truth." Kyra lifted her shoulders in a casual shrug, unaffected by my pain.

  "It is." The constant cloud of despair that followed me, weighed heavily. "I did betray him. And I have to live with it and his absence forever. I feel it everywhere. I should have lied to Alejandro. I should have—"

  "He would have figured it out." Kyra cut me off, her voice flat and lifeless. The words pulled out of her by necessity. "Then you'd both be dead. At least with you on board we have a good chance at revenge." Her eyes shone, a bloodthirsty glint caused a shiver to make its way down my spine.

  Kyra wasn't someone I ever wanted as an enemy.

  I glanced at my watch. It was the same stunning diamond and platinum watch that I'd once loved. I remembered the joy I felt when Alejandro gave it to me, my elation at receiving such a well-crafted gift. I'd never had anything like it.

  Now it reminded me of how easily I was bought, how much my soul was worth. It was beautiful but empty, like me. I wanted to wear the bracelet Zak had given me, but the simple jewelry was too noticeable. I hadn't come up with a valid-sounding excuse to wear it.

  "I need to run before someone misses me." I snatched the slip of paper with her cell number and reached for her hand. "Mine hasn't changed." I scribbled it on her hand with a pen.

  "We'll call you when we have more info." Spencer stood, his hand clasped in Kyra's. My attention was riveted to their joined hands. Mine balled into fists at my side. Had Spencer jumped into Daniel's place so quickly?

  Anger made me speak without thinking.

  "Where's Gavin?" I hadn't heard anything about the hot-headed shifter.

  All emotion wiped from Kyra's face, her empty eyes stared back at me. "That's none of your business." Her voice was low, dangerous. It left no room for questions.

  "Oh-kay." I drew out the word, hiding the sudden tremble in my voice. Something was definitely going on there. Had he finally called it quits, tired of vying for Kyra's attention and revolving bed? "Love bites, huh?" I couldn't help the jab.

  "But so do I," she growled, her eyes more gold than brown.

  A trickle of sweat followed the line of my spine, the room warmer than it had been.

  "Over sharing." I cocked my fist on my hip, refusing to back down.

  She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Halestorm?"

  "I have no clue what you are talking about."

  She shook her head, the movement slow, condescending. "It's a band." At my blank look she added, "How are we even friends?"

  "We aren't."

  "True," she admitted.

  How did we end up here? Kyra and I banding together, involved in some nefarious plot to kill Alejandro? Involved in some secret underground faction with plans to move against the preternatural status quo. This whole thing was absurd.

  I wanted my old life back, but moving backwards was impossible, no matter how badly I wished for a do-over. Daniel was dead and my life was a facade, a costume I wore because I didn't know what else to do. Mine was a life lived in default.

  After this, there was no going back. I was at the tipping point.

  "Good luck." Spencer's chocolate eyes swam with sympathy. But he didn't have any idea what I was walking back into, not really.

  I spun on my heels and stalked from the room, closing the door harder than necessary behind me. My foul mood followed me all day, through meetings, courtroom drama, and an uncomfortable lunch scarfed down in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant. It came with me back to my condo. I wore it like a coat, heavy and hot even in the cooler weather.

  I should have been happy, elated even. I was one step closer to escape.

  So why wasn't I?r />
  Why did the thought of Alejandro's lifeless body fill me with dread? With heartache?

  He was cruel, a monster in the truest sense of the word. He'd killed countless people over the years. He killed Daniel. I flashed back to my friend's lifeless eyes, his still body lying on the floor almost at my feet. Pain stabbed through my chest at the memory.

  But even then I was torn. I'd loved him once, right? Did love die quickly, or was it a slow death through cruel words and even crueler actions?

  My feelings for Zak were so different from what I'd felt for Alejandro. I felt stronger around him. He built me up instead of tearing me down. I wasn't afraid to be vulnerable around him. He wouldn't take advantage of any weakness I showed.

  Fire heated my skin with the memory of his hands on my body. His lips.

  Distracted, I dumped my keys and bags on the counter as I slipped into my condo. The dry air conditioning was a nice break from the constant humidity, even though it was the so-called dry season. The smile that had grown at my distracted thoughts slipped the moment I flicked on my lights. Alejandro sat stiffly on my couch, his cold eyes boring into mine.

  ***

  My heart slammed into my ribcage. Drawing in a startled breath, my hand flew to my chest as if trying to quiet its frantic beating.

  "You startled me." I struggled to keep my voice calm. My head tilted in confusion. "Why are you sitting in the dark in my condo, Alejandro?"

  Instead of answering, he threw a copy of the Tampa Bay Times at me—a preview of tomorrow's edition. It smacked against my leg and tumbled to my feet.

  "What's this?" I set my briefcase down and crouched to pick up the paper. Dread tightened my throat.

  "That's exactly what I want to know," he snapped.

  My eyes widened at his cruel tone. Nausea churned as my hasty late lunch threatened to make a return appearance.

  I scanned the headlines but saw nothing that would explain his callous mood.

  "Page three." Empty eyes stared back at me as he waited for me to find it.

  The moment my eyes spotted the pictures I knew. The gasp escaped before I could hold it back.

  A picture of Zak and I holding hands outside of the courthouse. In another, he leaned into me, his arms caging me against my car.